Tag Archives: Shot

Form Shooting is will be of help to players of all ages and skill levels (Photo: Pixabay KeithJJ)

Form Shooting is a technique used to help players develop, or refine their shooting technique. At the heart of the form shooting teaching strategy is the philosophy that slowing the technical movement down helps a player to realise the issues surrounding their shot. The challenge for athletes and coaches alike comes in transferring the knowledge learned in a static environment of form shooting, to game shooting.

In transitioning the lessons learned when employing form shooting to game shooting the focus needs to be on scaffolding with small incremental steps to ensure the benefits of form shooting are not lost or diminished when increasing the speed of the skill performance initially. Scaffolding is a name we give to how a coach can create steps that move a player’s current level of understanding about a topic or performance of a skill to a new higher level. Form shooting is no different to any other skill in that building from the simple to the advanced as quickly as possible is the key to success without corruption the technical skill itself.

A recommended pathway that could be chosen for the scaffolding of the shooting technique could be:

One handed shooting technique: stationary shot with no jump

One handed shooting technique: stationary shot with jump

Two handed shooting technique: stationary shot with no jump

Two handed shooting technique incorporating jump: stationary shot

Jump-stop into two-handed shot from pass: incorporating jump

Stride-stop into two-handed shot from pass: incorporating jump

One dribble, jump-stop into two-handed shot from pass: incorporating jump

Two dribble, jump-stop into two-handed shot from pass: incorporating jump

The pathway can be shortened to meet the need of the individual athlete. However, if a player needs to make significant changes to their shot the technique will need to be broken down and built up several times before the individual will be able to use intrinsic feedback and self-coach the correct technique and coaching points specific to themselves.

The One Hand Form Shooting Drill provides a useful format for performing any one of the steps in the transitional pathway.

Once the transitional activities have been utilised to the point where the technique is focusing on the finer motor skills and not instilling new ones. A player can then streamline the process and use the strategy of form shooting to re-align their technique periodically. The activities of one-handed shooting with, or without the jump are also a useful activity that can be employed by an athlete as a warm-up.

In summary form shooting is a very useful strategy in helping players learn, refine or improve the art of shooting. For those players who have a weakness in their technique form shooting is the best possible way to find and correct the movements most effectively. This teaching strategy though must be able to transition to the real pace of the sport of basketball. If not the time and energy put into the activity is wasted with little benefit.

Share this:

The Triangle Shot Blocking Drill looks to provide an opportunity for a defensive player to practice their shot blocking around the basketball hoop. Shot blocking is a very challenging activity when initially a player tries to perform the technique. The Triangle Shot Blocking Drill looks to provide a realistic situation, with the potential to have multiple repetitions in a short space of time.

The Triangle Shot Blocking Drill is built around a common scenario where a defender has to adjust to ball rotation and move to cut off an offensive players advance to the hoop and then undertake shot blocking duties.

The Triangle Shot Blocking Drill starts with two offensive players (Three and Four) positioned on opposite sides of the keyway at the double blocks. These players are facing the basketball hoop.

Triangle Shot Blocking Drill Diagram 1

The defender (Five) starts in front of the basketball hoop facing towards the top of the keyway.

The coach stands at the top of the keyway with a basketball ready to start the drill on the pass.

The coach passes to either offensive player (Three or Four). As the ball leaves the coaches hands a call of “Go” lets the defender (Five) know they are allowed to move and start to defend the basket.

Once Three (3) or Four (4) have received the pass they can attempt to perform a lay-up towards the basketball hoop. The offensive players do not need to dribble the basketball, only take one step and then up to the basket.

On the verbal cue of “Go” the defender should swing step to face the side the ball goes to. To do this the defender will pivot on the foot furthest away from the side the ball goes to. This will allow the defender to drop their foot closest to the offensive player directly into the driving lane and from the very first step start to reduce the angle for the lay-up can be performed.

The Triangle Shot Blocking Drill finishes once the offensive player performs the shot.

The Five (5) must continue to box-out following the shot and shot blocking attempt.

The ball is to be recovered and passed back to the coach with each player resuming their original starting positions.

Variation

A variation for the Triangle Shot Blocking Drill is to rotate the players around with each repetition of the drill. For example the defender in one repetition moves into the offensive player’s position they are playing against. Defence to offense, and offense to defence. This will help players continually move and keep engaged into the drill.

The Triangle Shot Blocking Drill looks to help players develop the challenging skill of shot blocking. In the modern game teams must have a defensive presence around the basket.

Form Shooting allows players to improve their technique when performing a Set or Jump Shot by working on form and the fundamental technique (Photo Source: Jeramey Jannene)

Form Shooting is a type of shooting method where each item of the technique is broken down into more easily manageable pieces and corrections made accordingly. Form shooting allows for a coach or player to spend time with their shot ironing out any particular flaw that maybe having a significant affect upon their overall shot. Players of all ages, skill levels and abilities need to employ the strategy of form shooting to better manage their shot and always be improving.

The action of performing a Set Shot or Jump Shot in basketball are very complex movement, and are readily changed due to contact from defenders, distance from the basketball hoop and situation in which the action is undertaken. The complexity of the action can hide little weaknesses within an individual’s technique. If enough of these little “one percenters” are present, they can have a problematic effect upon the shot.

Creates an Opportunity Isolate an Element of the Shooting Action

Form shooting’s real strength is in the fact it allows itself to have the basic mechanics of shooting broken down, slowed and a high level of explicit feedback provide about each repetition. This does not mean a coach speaks volumes about the action, but rather provide simple feedback more frequently, and specifically, about a particular part of the players shooting form.

For example an error in a player’s shooting arm can be isolated by having a player shoot with one arm and so feedback more specifically mentioned about this area.

Allows for more Time Coaching

By employing the tactic of form shooting a coach gives themselves more repetitions, and more time to analysis and evaluate a players shooting action. This helps immensely with player development as many more repetitions can be seen by a coach, and then commented upon. Identifying the issues is one step, but allowing a player time to implement the correction while still receiving feedback is one of the other significant benefits of form shooting.

It is a common situation where a coach provides feedback to a player and because of time restrictions when working with groups that they are not able to follow-up on the instructions outcome on an ongoing basis. If using form shooting in an individual or small group context this issue can be overcome.

All relationships in a team sport are based around time. Taking the time to work with a player specifically around their functional shot action is a great way for a coach to build a strong bond of trust by demonstrating their investment in the athlete.

Allows for Development of Self-Coaching

Players often hear very similar messages from different coaches. The steps in performing a set or jump shot are well known by many coaches. What can be of benefit when form shooting, is because of the repetition and specific instructions given to the player. The feedback becomes heavily personalised and tailored to the individual. This makes remembering the instruction easier for the player and more meaningful.

Coaches should look to take this benefit of the individualised instruction further by questioning players about their own form shooting after providing some consistent feedback and instruction. Players will then start to critique their own action.

A further benefit of this happening in an individualised or small group session, is that a coach can then provide feedback on the perception of the player about what they feel is wrong with their shooting action. This empowers a player to not only make a difference in their own shot, but provides an opportunity for a coach to try and shift the perception (if correct) about what an athlete feels is wrong.

Form shooting is a very valuable tool in dealing with improving a player’s shooting action. Implemented well and the strategy behind form shooting not only provides opportunity for a player to learn from their own mistakes, but creates another coach on the floor.

Making a Shot in basketball is one of the main driving factors for players to constantly work on their game. Refining their technique, improving their shooting percentage, and then making that shot in a game is all part of the deep seeded motivation behind many hours of individual training on courts around the world. Watch any young player for long enough, and they will start to play out making that shot in front of thousands of people and replicate what they see in their heroes with their imagination.

What is not commonly discussed about a player’s shot technique is the ever-changing phase of development that must happen as a player grows. For many young athletes when they first start out in the sport they can struggle with the technique commonly prescribe to older players. All players mature differently and it may not be uncommon for players to be unable to perfect the truly desired form of their shooting technique until they are ten or eleven years of age. Even then, some compensation needs to be given to how young bodies grow and how everyone matures at different rates.

As players grow their shot will change. The mechanics can be brought in line with the desired shooting technique all coaches strive for (Photo Source: SD Dirk)

A player’s Shooting Technique will need constant analysis over the course of their playing career. Many players often over this time will need to change their shot as firstly they develop from being a junior to a senior and as they become more refined in their action. This will mean some players have to change their shot significantly a number of times. The arms help direct the ball more than any other part of the shooting action so it is vital for a coach to have some fundamental knowledge about the shooting action in regards to this aspect.

The technique involved in the positioning and follow through of the shooting arm is the single most significant aspect of the shooting action. However, for those younger players using two hands, instead of the preferred one, maybe the only way they can generate enough power to launch the ball towards the hoop. Many coaches can become overly concerned with these variations in technique. Players will often develop these wide range of characteristics because they are suitable for them in just trying to make a shot. Instead of trying to refine the hand position or the two-handed shooting form, why not work on footwork, body or head positioning.

As a coach if you take away the elements that are leading to the successful shot by a player. Such as using both arms to generate power, you are only going to be frustrated by a player who sees this as their only option for achieving the desired outcome. The player will resist these changes and resent them if they feel they cannot achieve what they had previously been able to do with their “modified” shot.

Of course for older players the technique needs to constantly be reshaped and refine until the correct technique is implemented with better effect. Some players form will be poor because of technique, but this rarely the case for those players in the younger age groups as identified earlier. The evolution of their technique is just a by-product of wanting to shoot and score however they can.

A players shot over time will change. It has to, as many players struggle to implement the correct technique especially during their adolescent years. Initially though, being able to get the ball as high as the hoop, and then occasionally getting the ball in is worth a hundred hours of motivation when compared to practicing the correct shooting technique. By picking appropriate areas to change in a players shooting action and watching them experience success gradually, and deliberately, a coach can mould a players shot without hurting their passion for the game. It is worth remembering that as a young player in the sport, when they watch Lebron James shoot the ball, they focus on the shot going in, not his perfect shooting technique…

The 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill focuses on player’s movements in the half court when there is dribble penetration inside the three-point line. The focus of the drill is in providing players with realistic and very specific overall tactical points about how to react to the movement of the ball. Players should be looking to react off the ball by moving into space and good receiver spots so they can make the most of any opportunities presented by player movement, offensively or defensively on the court. The 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill moves players into where holes a likely to form within a standard offense, however, these can change depending on the formation being implemented by a team. The importance aspects of moving into space off the ball though are relevant to any offense. To make the drill more specific to a team’s needs simply vary the starting point of the ball around the perimeter for the best results that is individualised to a team’s offense.

The first phase of the 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill looks at dribble penetration from the top of the keyway as depicted in Diagram 1 below. This can either be a dribble down the split line or to the strong side elbow.

2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill Diagram 1

The player dribbling the ball (One) should look to always finish with a jump stop in a shooting stance to still allow for the option of shooting in game situations.

The player off the ball (Two) has three options:

Lift and replace behind One (1) at the Point Position

Flash towards the baseline for a mid-range jump-shot

Fade into the corner for a three-point attempt

All three of these options, like all those presented within the 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill should be drilled. The use of all variations will only serve to help players develop as a more rounded player, and provides opportunities for the technical development of aspects such as footwork in preparing for a quick release shot.

Phase 2 of the 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill now looks to focus on the ball being dribbled baseline (Two) to the short corner from the wing. This is a common attacking scenario found in many offenses.

2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill Diagram 2

The player off the ball (One) will have four distinctive options:

Fill in behind and replace the dribbler on the three-point line

Move into the strong side elbow

Move to the weak side elbow

Move to the weak side elbow extended for the three-point shot

Variations will be common in regards to where the off the ball player (One) is desired to move. In some cases, it will be preferred for the player to move to the weak side elbow due to passing lanes and defensive rotations.

It is important to also be mindful of further variations to come when an additional offensive players (or two) is added to the scenario and where players will be drilled to move towards.

The third phase of the 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Sport Drill looks to now vary the attacking dribble lane to that of the elbow (Two). This simulates the common desired tactical movement of a dribbler coming over a screen.

2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill Diagram 3

In this situation there are three options

One (1) can fill and replace Two (2) on the wing for the possible three-point shooting opportunity

One (1) can move into the weak side elbow

One (1) can flare away from the dribbler looking to fill a weak side wing position for the three-point option

Catching a ball on the three-point line does not mean automatically that a player has to shoot a three-point attempt. What happens next after catching should be determined by the players own strengths and weaknesses around offensive production. For a player who has a strong three-point shot, the choice will be to catch and shoot. For another player the best offensive option might be to attack the basket. Coach to an individual’s strengths, not their weaknesses for the best success during games.

The fourth phase in the 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill now looks at a player off the ball (One) now is being two passes away.

The scenario again starts with Two (2) driving towards the baseline finishing at the short corner.

2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill Diagram 4

One (1) will have three options:

Move to the weak side elbow

Fill to the Point Position at the top of the keyway

Sink into the weak side long corner

It is very important that when using the sink to the long corner that players do not move behind the line of the backboard. In this scenario, a player should be looking for the dribbler to help create the passing lane as moving into the long corner by the off ball player (One) this too much of a challenging shot.

The final phase in the 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill is for Two to now dribble towards the strong side elbow.

2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill Diagram 5

There are four options to be explored for the off the ball offensive player (One):

Flash towards the double block

Flash towards the baseline for a mid-range jump shot

Sink into the long corner for the three-point attempt

Lift and fill the Point Position

All of the options presented here will help a player technically and tactically as they learn not only how what the options are off the ball, but also the way in which these movements are to be executed to lead to most favourable footwork and body position for a shot. The 2 Player Perimeter Receiver Spot Drill is a very solid drill and one that if was used more often would result in better outcomes for many teams from their perimeter players.